Rice Bran Oil vs Sunflower Oil: Which Is Healthier?

Healthy eating patterns have a great influence on mental and physical well-being. A nourished diet with a balanced composition of vitamins and essential fats reduces the risk of many lifestyle disorders and heart ailments. But on an honest note, we often undermine these factors and face nutritional deficiencies. 

Cooking oil plays a major role in developing healthy eating patterns. High-calorie, saturated oils like palm oil can lead to increased cholesterol levels and cause inflammation in the body. Whereas, natural oils like rice bran oil and sunflower oil serve as the best cooking oils.

There is a rising debate about the effectiveness of rice bran oil and sunflower oil, which can often be the reason for great confusion among users alike. Today in this blog, we will understand both oils from the basics, including their source, effectiveness, benefits, uses and some primary side effects. Let’s learn a quick introduction first. 

What Is Rice Bran Oil?

Laden with the power combination of oleic and linoleic acid, rice bran oil makes the most promising choice among cooking oils. It is extracted from the outer coat of the finest quality rice grains that undergo a very critical testing process.

This makes it the healthiest cooking oil, especially for individuals with fatty liver and cardiovascular disease. In addition to this, rice bran oil also helps with weight management due to its low-calorie composition in comparison to other cooking oils. The nourishing goodness of rice bran oil is also considered to be beneficial for females juggling with lifestyle disorders like PCOS and hormonal disorders. This justifies it’s holy addition in the expert-prescribed diets and therapies. 

What Is Sunflower Oil?

The proactive richness of sunflower cooking oil is obtained from premium quality, highly oleic sunflower seeds. Inherited from the Helianthus annuus plant family, sunflower oil is the most wholesome option in a wide range of cooking oils. It contains rich antioxidants and polyunsaturated fats like linoleic acid that help in maintaining LDL levels in the body and reduce the risk of heart attacks to a greater extent. Organic sunflower oil is widely used for deep frying, sauteing, and baking due to its neutral taste and non-greasy flavour. It has an abundance of vitamin E that works as a natural skin and hair emollient, adding vitality and youthfulness without any hassle. 

Rice Bran Oil vs Sunflower Oil: Comparison

Are you facing the dilemma of choosing the right cooking oil? Wondering if rice bran oil is healthy? Comparing the goodness of rice bran oil and sunflower oil is as confusing as choosing between your favourite candies. Nourishing, pure, heart-healthy, and whatnot! However, each oil has its own botanical profile that surpasses varied benefits naturally. Let's understand this by doing a quick comparison of both oils and identifying their different traits. 

Rice bran oil, derived from the outer layer of rice grains, is one of the top cooking oils for mankind. It carries a gentle, nutty aroma procured using the solvent extraction method.  On the other hand, the soulful nourishing goodness of sunflower oil comes from the seeds of the sunflower plant and is widely popular for it's range of skin and health benefits. The earlier one has a high-smoke point of 450° F, which makes it perfect for sauting, deep frying, and other high-heat cooking practices. While sunflower oil, with a smoke point of 227 °C, is also considered a great option for consumption. 

In fact, Rice bran oil also helps in reducing LDL levels and maintains good cholesterol levels in the body due to a high volume of antioxidants. In comparison, sunflower oil does reduce bad cholesterol, but at times it can also affect the HDL or good cholesterol levels in the body. At the same time, sunflower oil is a powerhouse of vitamin E, which can make it a one-in-wonder for your hair and skin health. 

Rice Bran Oil vs Sunflower Oil: Health Benefits

There are multiple sound benefits of using rice bran oil and sunflower oil for physical health and mental well-being. 

Benefits of Using Rice Bran Oil

• Regulates cholesterol levels in the body. 
• Improves skin barrier and delays ageing.
• Helps in maintaining a healthy BMI and reversing the symptoms of lifestyle disorders by boosting metabolism. 
• Prevents the risk of cardiovascular diseases and supports better blood circulation in the veins.

Benefits of Using Sunflower Oil

• Provides protection against the harmful UV rays of the sun.
• Effective in reducing the symptoms of inflammation, such as redness, pain, swelling, and bloating. 
• Antioxidants like linoleic acid support better absorption of glucose in cells and promote insulin sensitivity. Hence, stimulates balanced blood sugar levels in the body.
• The rich presence of vitamin E makes sunflower oil a natural exilir for skin and hair health. 

Which Oil Is Better for Cooking?

Making the right choice between rice bran oil and sunflower oil can be extremely difficult at times. Both oils have diverse health benefits that not only improve physical health but also support mental well-being. Using these oils for cooking can be a fruitful decision for your health.

You can always go around adopting rice bran oil for high-heat cooking purposes like deep-frying, grilling or sauteing. Comparatively, sunflower oil is best suited for baking, dressing salads and dips due to its mild flavour and better absorption nature.

One important factor is suitability. Individuals with heart diseases or obesity are highly advised to use rice bran oil due to its low-calorie profile that maintains cholesterol levels. On the other hand, sunflower oil makes the perfect fit for all those looking for a good anti-inflammatory oil, along with the proactive goodness of vitamin E and nourishing antioxidants. 

Rice Bran Oil vs Sunflower Oil: Side Effects

• You should always use both oils in a balanced proportion, or it might can disturb your cholesterol levels. 
• Individuals allergic to rice or sunflower seeds should avoid using both oils in dietary practices. 
• Excessive intake of rice bran oil can cause metabolic disorders, while in the case of sunflower oil, you might face acceleration in HDL levels, which can be disturbing. 
• One with eczema and skin allergies should never use these oils for topical application. 

Rice Bran Oil vs Sunflower Oil: Which One Should You Choose?

One should always make a rational decision while choosing the regular cooking oil. It not only supports better digestion but also helps in the efficient absorption of nutrients. If you are someone dealing with heart-related concerns or obesity, rice bran oil will be the best fit for you. It has saturated fats and natural antioxidants that improve metabolism and make you feel full for a long duration, thereby preventing unnecessary cravings. 

But if you want a good cooking oil that allows better insulin sensitivity, improved skin health and stronger hair vitality, then sunflower oil is your best companion. Moreover, sunflower oil contains a rich mass of vitamin E that accelerates blood circulation, preventing the risk of strokes and symptoms of inflammation in the body. For women dealing with PCOS or fertility issues, rice bran oil makes the ideal companion with the presence of gamma oryzanol, a compound that helps in maintaining a healthy ovarian structure.

Conclusion

Till now, you must have got a basic understanding about how rice bran oil is different from sunflower oil and which oil serves your interest better. One important factor to keep an eye on is the quality of rice bran oil or sunflower oil that you are using.

There is an excessive range of refined cooking oils available in the market that contains huge mineral waste. It not only raises quality concerns but can be fatal at times. To avoid these mishaps, one should always source premium-quality rice bran oil or sunflower oil from a trusted wholesale supplier. They will provide you with the best cooking oil at a very affordable price range, along with great discounts!